Insect pest proteomics and its potential application in pest control management

Proteomics has been considered as a high-throughput approach for large-scale analysis of proteins particularly their structures and functions. Thanks to the recent advances in mass spectrometry for protein identification, entomologists have greatly benefited from proteomics to unravel the molecular mechanisms behind insect feeding, diapause, metamorphosis, vitellogenesis, embryogenesis, etc. This capability is particularly exploited for the development of novel bio-pesticides in which identification of new target molecules is considered critical. Genome annotation and phylogenetic studies are the other entomological applications of proteomics. Current mass spectrometry-based proteomics strategies have enabled researchers to reproducibly, accurately, quantitatively, and comprehensively survey on proteome content from cells and tissues to whole body of an organism. Here, proteomics development in diverse insect pests and its potential application in insect pest management have been reviewed.